Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1964] Men not easily brought to believe the Worlds vanity.

A Gentlewoman (some piece of Vanity no doubt) being told that the World and all the glory thereof was but Vanity,* 1.1 Vanity of Vanities all's but Vanity, so said Solomon; 'Tis true (said she) Solomon did say so, but he tried first whether it were so or not,* 1.2 and so will I: Thus it is that most of us are very hard∣ly drawn to believe the Worlds vanity, as that he Wisedome thereof is but enmi∣ty with God,* 1.3 the riches thereof nothing available, the Honours thereof but de∣pendant and apt to lye in the dust, the pleasures thereof but momentany, and all of them such, whereupon may be truly written, Vanity; but here's the mi∣sery Men will not take Gods word for it that it is so, they cannot believe till (••or scarce when) they see,* 1.4 The World hath bewitched them before they will be∣lieve it to be a Witch, neither will they believe it to be a poyson till they are poysoned therewith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  R. Venning Milk and Honey.
• * 1.2

  Vanitas vanitatus omnia vanitas, &c.
• * 1.3

  Hunc versicu∣lum si saperent homines, qui in potentia et divitiis versan∣tur, &c.
• * 1.4

  Chrys. in Matth. hom. 20.